Manchester United are actively seeking a new holding midfielder to bolster their squad.
Manuel Ugarte is at the top of their transfer wishlist, but with Paris Saint-Germain holding out for a hefty £52 million fee, United are now exploring alternative options.
According to the Telegraph, Sander Berge, Richard Rios, Sofyan Amrabat and Martin Zubimendi are among the potential candidates.
The Red Devils want to sell Casemiro to free up funds but have not received any offer for the veteran.
United have already spent over £85m this summer to sign Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee.
They have to offload players before making another signing to balance their books.
Casemiro’s decline has been notable and surprising over the last 12 months.
Once a pillar of defensive stability, his influence has waned and United desperately need a new midfielder.
His ability to cover ground effectively and recover the ball has diminished.
He was outpaced by more dynamic midfielders which exposed United’s defence last season.
With his emerging reputation and robust defensive skills, Burnley’s Berge is an intriguing prospect.
Zubimendi earned rave reviews after a stellar Euro 2024 campaign, helping Spain to win the coveted trophy.
Amrabat spent last term on loan with United but endured a difficult campaign.
He showed improvement in the last four games of the season and was backed by Ten Hag to start ahead of Casemiro in the FA Cup final.
The Red Devils had an option to trigger £17m buy-clause in his loan deal. They decided against using that clause but are open to negotiating his transfer on fresh terms.
Columbia’s Rios is an interesting target but ball distribution is his glaring weakness.
Given United’s ambition to play a commanding, dominant style of football, Rios might not quite fit the bill.
The clock is ticking and the pressure is mounting on INEOS to secure a solid holding midfielder.
